And to prevent food ending up in the bin, the county council is distributing hundreds of eco-friendly boxes to restaurants around Oxfordshire.

County councillor David Nimmo Smith, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Food waste is a serious problem. For every meal eaten in a UK restaurant, half a kilo of food is wasted – through preparation, spoilage and what’s left behind on the plate.

The county council says that UK restaurant food waste totals 600,000 tonnes per year or 21 tonnes per restaurant – the same as five small African elephants.

Each participating restaurant will receive 250 free “take me home” boxes as part of the £27,000 scheme.

There are 35 restaurants taking part but the county council hopes to increase this to 100. It has set up a dedicated website so diners can find out more about the scheme and see which restaurants are taking part.

Related links

One of the restaurants taking part is The Big Bang at the Oxford Castle Quarter. Creative consultant Mazz Image said: “It is a great idea to minimise waste. I grew up in Australia and have lived in the USA and the concept of people being able to take food home is quite common there.”

Comments (6)

Why not extend this to street traders ?
"The council’s general licensing committee suggests a condition should be added to licences which forces street traders to only serve their food in packaging that is biodegradable or recyclable.
It would ban materials such as polystyrene, which is not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to break down"

Why not extend this to street traders ?
"The council’s general licensing committee suggests a condition should be added to licences which forces street traders to only serve their food in packaging that is biodegradable or recyclable.
It would ban materials such as polystyrene, which is not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to break down"djlamb69

what is an eco friendly box? I'm guessing to be universal the board needs a wax surface coat to prevent seepage? it would also need food standard accredited inks to be printed. There's then the matter of it's material, is it virgin fibre, if so is elementally chlorine free. I'd say looking at it, its from recycled board (as it is brown)

Now who can tell me how un-environmentally friendly recycled board is? and how impossible it is to recycle again without massive environmental impact.

And that is before I even get started on why tax payers money is being used to provide something to private enterprises.

what is an eco friendly box? I'm guessing to be universal the board needs a wax surface coat to prevent seepage? it would also need food standard accredited inks to be printed. There's then the matter of it's material, is it virgin fibre, if so is elementally chlorine free. I'd say looking at it, its from recycled board (as it is brown)
Now who can tell me how un-environmentally friendly recycled board is? and how impossible it is to recycle again without massive environmental impact.
And that is before I even get started on why tax payers money is being used to provide something to private enterprises.robbo81

Quite right Robbo, why try to make a difference when we can just carry on p|ss|ng resources away?

Do you think maybe they have looked into the impact of recycled cardboard vs throwing food away? Surely recycled cardboard is better than virgin cardboard anyway?

Quite right Robbo, why try to make a difference when we can just carry on p|ss|ng resources away?
Do you think maybe they have looked into the impact of recycled cardboard vs throwing food away? Surely recycled cardboard is better than virgin cardboard anyway?King Joke

Essentially these are doggy bags. These are commonplace in the States. If you don't eat all your meal in the States, they will routinely box it up for you to take home without being asked. In this country it seems weird to ask a restaurant to give you a doggy bag which is just a socio-cultural hang-up.

If I go out and I don't eat all my food I always ask for it to be bagged/boxed up so I can take it home or if it is small enough I wrap it up in a napkin and pop it in the wife's handbag. Even the bones/fat from the meat as my dogs love that when I get home.

Waste not, want not.

Essentially these are doggy bags. These are commonplace in the States. If you don't eat all your meal in the States, they will routinely box it up for you to take home without being asked. In this country it seems weird to ask a restaurant to give you a doggy bag which is just a socio-cultural hang-up.
If I go out and I don't eat all my food I always ask for it to be bagged/boxed up so I can take it home or if it is small enough I wrap it up in a napkin and pop it in the wife's handbag. Even the bones/fat from the meat as my dogs love that when I get home.
Waste not, want not.snert